China’s new ethnic unity law legalising cultural ‘erasure’, minorities warn at UN

Tibetan and Uighur representatives have appealed to the United Nations, urging member states to pressure China into repealing its new Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law. The law, set to take effect on July 1, aims to foster a unified national identity and strengthen cohesion among China's ethnic groups. However, rights advocates contend that the legislation provides Beijing with a legal framework to enforce long-standing assimilation policies targeting minority communities. The law criminalizes activities such as "violent terrorist activities, ethnic separatist activities, or religious extremist activities," which critics argue are broadly defined to suppress dissent and cultural expression. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has echoed these concerns, calling for the law's repeal and warning that it could lead to "deepening restrictions on freedoms of language, education, practice of religion, culture, expression and assembly." During a UN Human Rights Council side event, Tibetan representative Thinlay Chukki stated that the law effectively "legislates the erasure of Tibetans as a Tibetan identity, as a Tibetan culture, as a Tibetan language," warning of "cultural genocide." She highlighted concerns that the law legitimizes the forced assimilation of Tibetan children in residential boarding schools, where they are compelled to learn Mandarin and Han Chinese culture. Similar concerns have been raised regarding the Uighur minority in Xinjiang, where activists fear the law will further erode Uighur identity, heritage, and religion. Zumretay Arkin of the World Uighur Congress warned that the law aims to "disrupt our entire identity, to disconnect generations" and "completely eradicate Uighur identity, heritage, religion." Bhuchung Tsering of the International Campaign for Tibet described the law as a "sinister tactic to go after the youngest and to detach them from their culture," citing instances of Tibetan children already struggling to communicate with their parents due to the Mandarin-only language policies in schools.

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With the law, Tibetans “are no longer legally allowed to exist”, Thinlay Chukki, the representative of the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in central and eastern Europe, told the event, warning of a “cultural genocide”.